LARGO, Florida (AP) -- City commissioners early Saturday made final the firing of a city manager who is seeking a sex-change operation, despite pleas from dozens of impassioned supporters to save his job.

After a six-hour hearing, the commissioners decided to fire 48-year-old Steve Stanton after his announcement that he planned a new life as a woman. The move came after the commission voted 5-2 last month to suspend him with pay.

Commissioners contended Stanton was being fired because they lost confidence in him, not because he wants to be a woman.

"I think we're pretty well convinced," Commissioner Gay Gentry said. "You have to believe us, you have to trust us, it is not about transgenderism."

Stanton, 48, triggered the debate in the city of 76,000 west of Tampa last month when he announced his plans at a news conference. Commissioners said Stanton's announcement caused turmoil and work disruption in the city. His contract says he can be fired without cause at any time.

You know, my gut reaction about people who want to change their gender is: I find it pretty disgusting, I don't know how anybody could want to do it...and it's none of my damn business.

I don't buy the commissioners' argument about "turmoil and work disruption" or "lost confidence". And it may be possible for them to fire Stanton "without cause" at any time, but it's neither moral nor right. As long as the man (or woman) is doing the job, I don't know why it's anybody else's business.

That doesn't creep you out? It's so commonplace it doesn't give you qualms?

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From what I've gathered in an academic setting (classes that deal with gender issues and sexuality) as well as with people I know personally, it is literally feeling like your body does NOT match up with who you are.

Isn't that more "disgusting?" Knowing that part of your physical body is so alien to you as a person? Not personally identifiying as transgendered and yet still having body image issues, I can only try to imagine how disoncerting it would be to constanly feel that my body betrays who I really am inside.

For the record, not all transgendered people opt for surgery. And not all who do opt for surgeries undergo the more extreme procedures.

Imagine doing it yourself...having your penis and scrotum cut off and getting injected to grow breasts....

That doesn't creep you out? It's so commonplace it doesn't give you qualms?

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Well as I'm perfectly happy with being male, I think male and I feel male. So I've not had to make those kind of decisions.
However if I felt different I think I would have no problem making those changes.
As for "creeping me out"?
Nope, not at all. Why should it?

I find it very hard to understand why some people have a problem with it.

Ah, I'm just messing with you because I'm a post-op transsexual and know more about this issue than I was letting on. If you are genuinely interested in the problems involved that drive people like me to what seems like drastic measures, then you're welcome to get in touch. I say that because I like you and admire your views; that's not an open invitation to just anyone.

There. My public outing on this forum.

I just don't care who knows it anymore. Just please don't think of me and others like me as 'disgusting'.

It's not right to force kids to have a transsexual teacher. I mean so many make such a big fuss about things like prayer in school and yet they don't bat an eyelash over transsexual teachers. If I had kids I wouldn't want them being educated in that kind of environment.

It's not right to force kids to have a transsexual teacher. I mean so many make such a big fuss about things like prayer in school and yet they don't bat an eyelash over transsexual teachers. If I had kids I wouldn't want them being educated in that kind of environment.

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Erm, forcing people into practising religious practices and having a TS teacher are totally different!!!

If I had kids I wouldn't want them being educated in that kind of environment.

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What kind of environment is that exactly? If you met me, you wouldn't even know.

I work in an office, I enjoy good working relationships with my colleagues, I have friends from all backgrounds and all walks of life, I even enjoy good relationships within my own family including my little nephew. My friends have children, some of whom I've baby-sitted and looked-after before.

Your ignorance about real life astounds me. Lift your head from that book and look around you.

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